310 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the plan of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Eight 

 schools were visited that day. When it is remembered that be- 

 fore the "Window Gaixlening Committee was formed but one school 

 in Boston had ever given pot plants, the contrast which was ob- 

 served in 1890 was encouraging. About 13,000 pot plants were 

 distributed in the various schools in the State. 



In one or two instances the florist was authorized to put a 

 water-proof cover over tlie earthen pot, thus preventing many 

 untoward accidents resulting from carrying dirty pots. 



The first exhibition of this year was held in June, at the Church 

 of the Good Shepherd, whose faithful pastor has interested him- 

 self in the work of this Committee since its formation Forty- 

 five plants were there, each and every one of which had been the 

 especial care of a child. They were well-grown and free from torn 

 or dead leaves or stems. The pots were clean, and the labels dis- 

 tinctly marked. One family of six children brought an astonish- 

 ing collection. A visit to their home later in the season revealed 

 the fact that the mother, while encouraging the children to water 

 and shelter the plants in the small enclosure called garden, — on 

 which the sun's rays fell with terrible effect in August and .Se|)tem- 

 ber, — had little leisure to help them. A sick husband, an infant in 

 arms, and the whole care of a family of nine, gave her enough to do. 

 The welcome addition of six other plants gave to the household 

 much joy. 



In August, the second exhibition was held in the rooms of the 

 North Bennet Street Industrial School, which were kindly offered 

 to the children of the public schools in the neighborhood. Fifty 

 well-grown plants — Geraniums, Fuchsias, Tradescantias, and 

 Abutilons — were presented by the children, who came again later 

 in the day for them. One plant of Acacia Farnesiana, raised by an 

 invalid girl, was well-grown and handsome. Had it been in flower, 

 it would have had double the prize. 



Owing to either the poverty or indifference of parents, some of 

 the plants requiring to be shifted from the two and one-half inch 

 pots in which the florist sold them, had been buried in ten-inch 

 pots, " because it was all there was in the house." The Commit- - 

 tee sent for a few four-iuch pots, and shifted them, thus giving a 

 lesson in thoroughness to the children, who watched the process 

 with great interest. 



In the past three years your Committee had experienced diffi- 



